PGC 676+

Chap 684

Chapter 684: It really isn't something minor

The path to the Wintercrow Clan was undeniably dangerous. But the Northern Li wasn’t worried for Jun Yixie’s personal safety as much as who would be responsible for the horse farms and snow mountain affairs once he was gone. If Jun Yixie died at the Wintercrow Clan’s hands, who would take over those two meaty responsibilities? 

Originally, the business of horse trading fell under the crown prince’s jurisdiction, but the Northern Li emperor was sending the second imperial prince to the north because he didn’t want to risk the crown prince’s life. A country needed its leader and a heir to the throne. If both the second imperial prince and Jun Yixie went north, then the horse farm and snow mountains would fall into the crown prince’s hands. Although the emperor regarded his son highly, he didn’t want him to grow too powerful. After all, Crown Prince Long Tianmo was a prime example of too much power in the wrong hands!

As he hesitated, Bai Yanqing spoke up. “It’s not certain that the second imperial prince can succeed in this endeavor alone. With Yixie coming along, this old man will worry less. Barbarian tribes fear strange powers and chaotic gods most, so Yixie’s poison skills should be enough to face them.”

The Wintercrow Clan was extremely backwards, especially when it came to medicine. Many incurable illnesses were attributed to supernatural beings or monsters. Jun Yixie could show off his poison skills there and perhaps even be regarded as a god. Anyone considered a deity in the Wintercrow Clan was free to command them as he wished.

“Poison arts! That’s not a bad idea! Beloved official, why didn’t you say so earlier?” the emperor grew enlightened.

“To be frank, I just thought of it myself,” Bai Yanqing admitted.

Like that, the Northern Li emperor agreed to the arrangements. Bai Yanqing and Jun Yixie left the hall before master whispered to disciple, “Find someone to tell the news to the crown prince a few days later. He won’t miss out on the chance to vie for favor.”

Jun Yixie’s lips curved up into a cruel smirk. “Master is wise and brilliant. Your disciple definitely won’t disappoint master.”

Anyone who could bring back the horses would be rendering meritorious service and gain command over the warhorse stocks. The crown prince would definitely refuse to let the second imperial prince take all the credit. Jun Yixie had ways to whisk the crown prince off to the Wintercrow Clan as well. When the time came, it’d be up to him to determine their deaths. Once the Northern Li emperor lost both his sons, it’d be like losing his left and right arms. Even if another imperial prince gained his support, he’d be hard-pressed to contend against Jun Yixie at court! After the emperor grew older, it’d be even less certain to see who inherited the lands of Northern Li at last!

Jun Yixie had wondered why master wanted him to keep a close eye on Northern Li’s internal affairs instead of meddling with external conflicts. Now he could understand. If he hadn’t lost to Long Feiye and Han Yunxi, he would still be the Northern Li emperor’s trusty ally. Master’s grand chessboard hinged on the ultimate goal of controlling all of Northern Li. 

Bai Yanqing and Jun Yixie headed towards their tent before the former spoke up. “Cloud Realm Trade Consortium is the biggest variable in this case. We cannot ignore the grain and horses in their hands.”

“Master, just what is the relationship between the Ning Clan and Cloud Realm Trade Consortium? When the Ning fought against Western Zhou, the consortium sold multiple red coat cannons to the Ning Clan,[1. Ning Clan and Cloud Realm Trade Consortium - lest we get confused, the general public only knows the Ning Clan as Great General Ning Jing and Grand Concubine Ning (formerly Noble Consort Ning) in Tianning Country. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium is supposedly run by the Ouyang Clan, with Ouyang Ning Jing as its president and Ouyang Ning Nuo as the ex-president that HYX and LFY deposed after the Grand Medicine Testing Convention.]” Jun Yixie remarked.